Gettysburg College

Research shows that people have a natural-is-better belief whereby things described as "natural" are perceived as better than artificial, synthetic, or human-made items. For example, people report they would prefer a host of items when they are described as natural versus synthetic including drugs, vaccines, food, cigarettes, human talent, and lighting. Some people report preferring a natural item like a drug even when it is objectively less safe or effective than a synthetic counterpart. This naturalness bias is may become more widespread given the political climate in the U.S. and elsewhere in 2025 and beyond. However, there are many instances in which believing naturalness is better may be problematic, especially when it comes to health or medical behaviors. For example, people may forgo a synthetic or human-made medical treatment that has been rigorously tested in the laboratory and shown to influence a health condition in favor of a natural approach (e.g., herbal medicine). Research suggests that beliefs regarding the safety of natural items is one causal factor, but science skepticism is another factor that may be important. People who have a stronger naturalness bias may also be higher in science skepticism. Understanding how these two factors are connected could bring additional insight into how to reduce this bias. Implications of this connection and other ideas for future research related to the naturalness bias are discussed.

Abstract Green algae in the genus Oophila are associated with eggs of amphibians, e.g. salamanders and frogs, and are the only known photosynthetic endosymbionts in vertebrates. However, phylogenetic placements of “ Oophila ” algae associated with amphibians into two distinct clades have caused significant confusion and hindered our understanding of the nature and diversity of this symbiotic system. To gain insights into this unexplored symbiotic model, we carried out a sampling of the Japanese black salamander Hynobius nigrescens eggs, an endemic species in Japan, covering five distinct locations. Egg masses from H. nigrescens all contained green algae, some of which were sampled, isolated, and cultured. In total, 32 algal isolates could grow as free-living cultures and were used for phylogenetic and morphological analyses. Our results supported the co-existence of two Oophila subgroups with H. nigrescens embryos. One is associated with the known subclades of O. amblystomatis found in North America, and the other belongs to an Oophila/Chlorococcum group in the Stephanosphaerinia. The isolates in each subgroup showed identical morphology across sampling sites, consistent with our phylogenetic findings. These new, unique cultures of amphibian-associated green algae will help to understand photosymbiosis between vertebrates and algae.

Studying early video game sound and music offers many active learning opportunities for undergraduate music students. This essay introduces instructors and students to the sonic capabilities and pedagogical possibilities of the Arduino platform, an affordable and open-source circuit board with a broad collection of input and output devices. Arduino allows students and instructors to explore--among other possibilities--the same potentialities and limitations that were available to early video game sound designers, helping students to forge connections between music theory, computer science, media studies, and the history of video game music, making possible a kind of speculative material history (Pinch 2008, Whitson 2015) of game sound design, as they tackle the challenging question of how to wring meaningful sounds from a few centimeters of silicon and some wires. In this article, I describe the context of a general education course on music in video games, outline a sample unit on designing synthesizers with Arduino, and argue that academic courses in music—for both majors and general education students—have much to gain from engaging with current discourses on critical making (Ratto 2011) and the digital humanities.

ABSTRACT Civilian casualties are common during counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations (CTO/COIN), but more research is needed to understand when and why people support CTO/COIN efforts that inflict civilian casualties. A 2022 case comparison survey in Mosul and Basra, Iraq shows that people who are more directly affected by terrorist and insurgent violence (Mosul) are more supportive of CTO/COIN than those less exposed to violence (Basra), including willingness to tolerate civilian casualties. However, a survey experiment finds that people are more accepting of civilian casualties resulting from drone attacks, human-piloted bombardments, and artillery shelling when framed as necessary to reduce Iraqi army casualties during group deployments. Overall, we find the public willing to prioritize the lives of soldiers during CTO/COIN operations, accepting civilian loss of life as a necessary tradeoff. Our results have implications for government efforts to combat unpopular insurgent and terrorist groups with high-intensity military campaigns in densely-populated, urban areas.

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the dynamic impact of Chinese overseas construction and engineering projects on the environmental pollution of host countries, using CO2 emissions as a proxy. Employing a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) approach, we address endogeneity and explore heterogeneity across countries by income level. The full sample analyses show mixed and often insignificant effects. However, disaggregated results reveal that in low-income countries, these projects cause environmental degradation, temporary GDP gains, short-lived FDI inflows, and weak governance improvements, reflecting limited regulatory capacity. In high-income countries, environmental impacts are minimal, with strong institutional oversight. Our findings offer valuable insights for designing stronger environmental governance in developing economies.

Abstract Qur’anic Studies long acknowledged the indisputable place of debate (jadal) as a principal genre in the corpus. To date, however, a form-critical typology of the debate genre still remains a desideratum of research. Significant roadblocks include the pervasive quality of polemics and apologetics in late antique rhetoric and the equally extensive repertoire presented in the Qur’an. An added complication is the vexing question of apocalyptic and eschatological discourse in both biblical and qur’anic scholarship. By means of a methodical examination, this article catalogues a comprehensive set of debate formulae and corresponding speech-forms, ranging from eschatological prophecies to prophetic announcements. Thus, form criticism opens a rare window onto the rhetorical world of the Qur’an.